Propeller actuated machine



Aug. 26, 1941. E. BUGAT-rl PROPELLER ACTUATED MACHINE Filed May 1e, 1939s sheets-sheet 1 InvG-'far 09E 8068717,

Aug. 26, 1941; E. BUGATTI v PROPELLERKACTUATED MACHINE Filed May 16,19259v 3 Sheets-Shaml 2 wm uw www Nw .EN

/V Yf/VTOI? Irons sus 1n,

Aug. 26, 1941. E. BUGATTI PROPELLER ACTUATED MACHINE Fild My 16, 1959 5Sheets-'Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 26, 1941 OFFICE 2,253,151 PaorauaaAcrUA'rEn MACHINE Ettore Bugatti, Paris, France Application May 16,1939, Serial No. 274,065 In Luxemburg May 18, v1938 13 Claims.

vabout corresponding axes located symmetrically with respect to eachother on either side of the medianplane of the machine, and I providemeans for simultaneously pivoting both of these propellers about theirrespective axes in opposite directions, and means for simultaneouslypivoting both of these propellers about their respective axes in thesame direction, these means being adapted to work simultaneously so asto permit of combining these displacements of the propellers.

Other features of the present invention will result from the followingdetailed description of some speciilc embodiments thereof.-

Preferred embodiments oi the present invention will be hereinafterdescribed, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely byway of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows, partly in section, a propelling systemfor a motor boat made according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view of a device for controlling thispropelling system according .to a first embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view of another embodiment of the controldevice;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of still another embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical elevation View, partly in section, of asecond embodiment of the propelling system according to the invention.

In the following description with reference to the drawings, it will beassumed that the invention is applied to a motor boat, such for instanceas a speed boat.

The hull of this boat is made in' any suitable mounted in a propeller`bearing capable of pivoting about an axis, preferably vertical, wherebythe shafts of said propellers can be turned both in the same directionabout their respective axes, by means of a suitable steering system,which permits of controlling the direction in which the boat is moving,these propellers being, for instance, moved respectively by motors 2 and2' which are operative' for their steering displacement.

According to the present invention, I provide, in cooperation with screwpropellers I and l'. in addition to the steering system above referredto, means, independent of said steering system, for imparting conjugatedpivoting displacements in opposite directions to the supports of saidscrew propellers, whereby it is, for instance, possible to vary themagnitude of the propelling efforts resultant, and, in particular, byrotating the propeller supports through 180, to reverse said resultantand, consequently, the direction in which the boat is moving.

It will be readily understood that the provision of such means willgreatly facilitate the handling oi' the boat since it permits, whilekeeping the rate of working of the boat motor,

a. Either of reducing the speed, by pivoting the propeller supportsthrough an angle ranging from 0 to 90, a rotation through 90corresponding to the neutral position, since the resultant ofthepropelling efforts is equal to zero in this position of the screwpropellers;l

b. Or of braking the boat by pivoting the propeller supports about theirrespective axes through angles greater than 90;

c. Or, again, of reversing nearly instantaneously the direction in whichthe boat'is moving by pivoting the propeller supports through respectiveangles of 180, this position being particularly interesting, especiallyin the case of motor boats intended to undergo sudden changes ofdirection.

For this purpose, concerning iirst the system for simultaneously turningboth of the axes of the propellers in the same direction, it is devisedin such manner, that it includes a steering control element 3 connectedto said propellers I and I' through the intermediary of a mechanismwhich is adapted to impart to'the supports of saidl propellers, throughmeans which will be hereinafter' more fully described, pivotingdisplacements i'n-' dependent of the pivoting displacements of saidsupports in opposed direction.

For instance, I make use of the arrangement disclosed by Fig. 1: Y

In this embodiment of the invention, the steering control member 3 isconstituted by a kind of hand-wheel adapted to coact, through the mediumof pinions 4 and 5, with a transverse shaft 6 at the respective ends ofwhich I provide differential gears D and D', identical to each other,the casings of these differential gears being mounted in such mannerthat they can turn coaxially in the frame 1 of the whole.

I key one of the pinions 8 of each differential gear on said shaft 6,while ,I couple the other pinion 9 of said differential (which pinion isconnected -to the above mentioned one through planet wheels I), forinstance through the medium of a shaft II or II', of an endless screw I2or I2', and of a helical wheel or Worm wheel I3 or I3', to the supportof the corresponding propeller support I or I'.

With such an arrangement, when steering wheel 3 is operated, with a viewto modifying the direction in which the boat is running, shafts II and II' are rotated, in the same direction and at the same speed, if it issupposed that the cas ings of differential gears D and D' are thenstationary. The axes of screw propellers I and I are then turnedsimultaneously in the same direction, and the desired modification ofthe direction of the efforts of said propeller screws is thus obtained.

Concerning now the above mentioned means for simultaneously turning bothof the propeller screws in opposed directions, they are made in suchmanner that it is possible, through the action of an auxiliary motor,such for instance as electric motor I4, to turn in opposite directionsthe casings of differential gears D and D'.

For this purpose, said motor I4 drives, through an intermediate shaftI5, an endless screw I6, and a worm wheel I1 cooperating with saidscrew, a bevel pinion I8.

This pinion I6 meshes, on opposite sides, with two other bevel pinionsI9 and I9', coaxial with each other and respectively rigid with pinions20 and 20'. These pinions 20 and 20' themselves mesh with tooth wheels2|. and 2| themselves rigid with the casings of the respectivedifferential vgears D and D'.

In -this way, when motor I4 is working, shafts II and II', and thereforethe supports of propellers I and I', are given rotary movements inopposite directions.

In order to control this motor I4, I may have recourse, for instance, toadevice permitting of starting said motor in the desired direction andof stopping it at will, according to the arrangement disclosed by Fig.2.

In this embodiment, motor I4 is made in such manner that it runs in onedirection or the other according as it is fed with current through oneor the other of two conductors respectively designated by referencecharacters AV and AR, the first corresponding to the direction ofrotation of the motor for which the propeller supports are brought intothe position corresponding to the boat running in the forward direction,while the other corresponds to the direction of rotation of the motorfor which the propeller supports are brought into the positioncorresponding to the boat running in the rearward direction.

` I provide, respectively on each of said conductors, circuit breakersi1 and i2, a contactor C being provided which permits either of sendingat will the current into one or the other of said conductors, or on thecontrary of leaving both of them unconnected. when in neutral position.

Preferably I provide a mechanism capable of automatically stopping motorI4 in the extreme position of the propeller supports. 'I'his mechanismmay for instance Include a threaded portion of the shaft I5 of themotor, a longitudinally movable member 26 screwed on said threadedportion, and fingers 331 and 332 capable of occupying, for the extremepositions of said member 26 on which they are fixed, which extremepositions correspond to the extreme angular positions of the propellersupports, the opening of that of circuit breakers i1 or i2 which is inservice.

With such an arrangement, the pilot will be able, through contactor C,to start motor I4 in one direction or the other and, in all cases, themotor will automatically stop when the propeller supports reach eitherof their extreme positions.

According to another embodiment, illustrated by Fig. 3, motor I4 iscontrolled by means of a device which causes the propeller supports tooccupy a position corresponding to that given to a control member suchas a lever 34, adapted to be locked in any desired position along atoothed sector 34.

'In this embodiment, conductors AV and AR are respectively connected tocontacts 351 and 352 located opposite each other and carried by a piece36 adapted to slide along a rod 31 coupled with lever 34, this piece 36being urged toward an intermediate position by two springs 381 and 382acting in opposite directions.

On a threaded portion ofshaft I5 (driven by the motor) I provide arunner 26 carrying a contact stud 39 located, with a suilicientclearance, between contacts 351 and 352 and adapted to close the AVcircuit or the AR circuit according as it comes to-touch one or theother 'of these contacts.

This control system will operate in the following manner:

All the parts are rst supposed to be in the` lever 34 is displaced inone direction or the other,

the AV or the AR circuit is closed. 'I'he motor is started, and, owingto the presence of springs 381 and 382, it is possible immediately tobring said lever 34 into any desired position ranging between theextreme positions thereof. 'I'hat of these springs which is compressedmaintains the corresponding contact against stud 39 until thedisplacement of runner 26 enables piece 36 to come back, under theaction of thesprlng that was compressed when lever 34 was operated, intoits mean position on rod 31. From this time on, any supplementarydisplacement of runner 26 causes the contact to be broken and stops themotor. Therefore the stopping of the motor is truly controlled by theposition initially imparted to control lever 34.

Finally, it is possible, according to still another embodiment, tocontrol motor I4 through a device which automatically ensures a rotationof of the propeller supports.

This embodiment is illustrated by Fig. 4 and it is made as follows:

I provide, respectively on each of theconductors AV and AR, conductors221 and 22: which cooperate with a control member such for instance as apush button (231 for conductor AV and 232 for conductor AR) whichpermits of closing the contact against the action of a spring 241 or242.

For this purpose, two rods 401 and 402 are respectively connected toeach push button. Rod 401 is provided with a notch 4I1 and rod 4II2 isprovided with a notch 4 l2.

. aasavsv The contactors 221 and 221 constitute the ends of arms 301 and33a, respectively pivoted to pieces 21x and 21a. These pieces areslidable vertically in guiding members 421 and 421, respectively, whichalso serve to guide, but in the horizontal direction, rods 401 and 401.

The above mentioned pieces 211 and 211 are respectively provided withnotches or slots 21a1 and 21a2 the upper edges of which are bevelled soas to form a tooth which coacts with the notches 4I1 and 4I1 of rods 401and 40.

Fingers 431 and 431 xed to each of the pieces 211.and 211 respectively,coact with a corresponding notch provided in arms 301 and 301, in suchmanner as to limit the angle existing between arm 301 or 3011, on. theone hand, and piece 211 or 211, respectively, on the other hand.

Finally, contactors 221 and 222 are subjected to the action oi' springs231 and-231, which tend to apply them-against the current feed studs 321and 321, respectively, so as to close the circuits lnwhlch they areinserted.

In order to control contactors 221 and 221, I provide4 a runner 23 whichis mounted on a threaded portion of shaft I5 and which includes inclinedsurfaces. These inclined surfaces cooperate, when the runner 26 comesinto either of its extreme positions, with the lower ends o f pieces 211and 211. The distance between said pieces is chosen in such manner thatthe displacement of the runner between these extreme positionscorresponds to a pivoting movement of 180 of the propeller supports.

Rods 401 and 402 are arranged in line with each other and their endsbear in an insulating piece 23a. Between the ends of rods 401 and 402,there is mounted an insulating piece y23 the 4length of which is chosenin such manner that when one of the push buttons is depressed inwardly,the other push button cannot be moved inwardly.

The device above described will work in the following manner:

If one of the two circuits, for instance circuit AV, is to be closed,the corresponding push button (231) is pushed inwardly, into theposition into notch 4I1, under the action of spring 231.'

At the same time, contacter 221 is applied against 1 contact 321.Circuit AV is now closed.

In the position illustrated by Fig. 4, push button 231 is locked in thedepressed position, and the other push button, 231, cannot be movedinwardly as long as push button 231 is in this position.

When the AV circuit has just been closed, runner 23 was in the extremeposition on the left hand side, close to piece 21. The working of themotor causes said runner 26 to come into the position on the right handside as shown by Fig. 4. 'I'he number of revolutions of the motor shaftthat is necessary for bringing member 28 from one extreme position tothe other corresponds to what is necessary for pivoting the supports of'propellers I and I' through an angle of 180.

A short time before it reaches its extreme position on the right handside, runner 26 begins to act on piece 211, the inclined surface 251 ofsaid runner lifting piece 211. At the beginning of the upward movementof piece 211, rod 401 is disengaged by tooth 4I1, whereby push button231 can be returned into its position' of vrest by the action of spring241. However, the beginning of the movement of piece 211 has not for itseffect to disengage contact 221 from stud 321 because,

in view of the fact that lug 431 is free to move in the correspondingnotch of arm 301, at the beginning of the upward movement of piece 211,arm 301 and contact 221 are driven by piece 211, against the action ofspring 231, in order to break circuit AV, only when said lug 431 hasreachedthe end of the corresponding notch provided in arm 301.

Therefore, push piece 231 is released from its locked position beforethe AV circuit is broken.

Then, the supports of propellers I and I' can again be brought intopositions at 180 from those they now occupy by acting on push button231. The operation in this case is the same as that above described withreference to the action of push button 231.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the system for driving the propellersupports.

In this embodiment, the supports of propellers I and I' are also driven,through endless screws I2 and I2' and worm wheels I3 and I3', by shaftsII'. and II'. These shafts are rigid with worm wheels 3a and 3a',respectively. An electric motor I4a is supported by a frame 1a, adaptedto pivot on supports 50 about an axis in line with the axes of shafts IIand II'. The shaft of this motor I4a carries, keyed thereon, a pinion I3adapted to mesh with two pinions I3 and I0' iournalled in frame 1a.These pinions I3 and I0' are rigid with endless screws 20a and 20a',coaxial therewith. These endless screws 20a and 20a' mesh with the abovementioned worm wheels It should be noted that one of these endlessscrews is on one side of the corresponding worm wheel while the other ison the opposite side of the other worm Wheel. For instance, as shown bythe drawings, endless screw 20a is behind the vertical Yplane of thedrawings, while endless screw 20a is in front of said plane.

Frame 1a carried a sleeve 5I fltted with pinions 52 meshing with a,chain 53 driven by the steering wheel 3.

The .device above described will work in the following manner:

Supposing that motor I4a is not running, a rotation of steering wheel 3will produce, through chain 53, pinions 52 and sleeve 5I, a rotation ofthe motor frame 1a about the common axis of shafts II and II'. 'Ihewhole of the structure carried by said frame will pivot about said axis.Through worm wheels 9a and 9a this movement will be transmitted toshafts II and II which will turn both in the same direction.

On the other hand, if motor I4a is caused to i turn in one direction orthe other, it drives pinions I9 and. I3 both in the same direction, andthis causes shafts II and II to be driven in opposite direction, duetothe above noted'location of endless screws 20a and 20a' on oppositesides `of the corresponding worm wheels 9a and 9a.'

respectively. This causes the supports of propellers I and I' to beturned inv opposed directions simultaneously.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the control of the working of motor I4 isobtained through a device analogous to that of Fig. 3, including acontrol lever 34 coupled with a sliding rod 31. This rod carries twoAcontacts 351 and 35m2 mounted on springs 541 and 541 and cooperatingwith a contact stud 39 carried by a nut 26 mounted on a threaded portionof shaft I I'.

It will be readily understood that the elastic mounting of contacts 35a1and 35a1 on rod 31 is exactly the equivalent of the mounting ofconjected tothe antagonistic actions of springs 381 and 382 in theembodiment of Fig. 3.

In a general manner, while 'I have, in the above description, disclosedwhat I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of the presentinvention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limitedthereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, dispositionand form of the parts without departing from the principle of thepresent invention as comprehended within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of twopropellers respectively adapted to pivot about corresponding axeslocated symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of themedian plane of said machine, two differential gears including each acasing journalled with respect to said machine, and at least two sunwheels and a planet wheel journalled in said casing and cooperatingtogether, mechanical means coupling one of said sun wheels with one ofsaid propellers for causing said last mentioned propeller to turn aboutits axis above mentioned when said last mentioned sun wheel is rotatedwith respect to said machine, control means for simultaneously rotatingthe two other sun wheels of the respective differential gears, andcontrol means for simultaneously rotating the two caslngs 0f therespective differential gears, one of said control means being adaptedto drive the two elements it rotates both in the same direction and theother control means being adapted to drive the two elements it rotatesin opposed directions.

2. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of twopropellers respectively adapted to pivot about respective pivoting axestransverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically withrespect to each other on either side of the median plane of saidmachine, two differential gears including each a.

casing journalled with respect to said machine and at least two sunwheels and a planet wheel ,l

the corresponding propeller by pivoting it about f the correspondingpivoting axis when said last mentioned sun wheel is turned with respectto said machine, control means for simultaneously turning the two othersun wheels of the respective differential gears both in the samedirection, and control means for simultaneously rotating the two casingsof lthe respective differential gears in opposed directions.

3. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least 4one group of twopropellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting axestransverse to their axes of revolution and 1ocated symmetrically withrespect to each other on either side of the median plane of saidmachine, a frame carried by said machine, two differential gears,associated with said two propellers, respectively, including each acasing journalled in said frame and at least two sun Wheels and a planetwheel vjournalled in said casing and cooperating together, mechanicalmeans coupling one sun wheel of each differential gear with thecorresponding propeller for causing said propeller to turn about itspivoting axis when said last mentioned sun wheel is turned with respectto said frame, hand control means for simultaneously turning the twoother sun wheels of the respective differential gears both in the samedirection, an electric motor, means for connecting said motor with saiddifferential gear casings adapted to turn said casings in oppositedirections when said motor is running, and means for controlling saidmotor.

4. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of twopropellers respectively adapted to ,turn about respective pivoting axestransverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically withrespect to each other on either side of the median plane of saidmachine, two shafts in line with each other journalled in said machineand connected with said propellers respectively so that rotation of eachof said shafts causes the corresponding propeller to turn about itspivoting axis, a frame journalled in said machine about the same axis assaid two shafts, a motor carried by said frame, transmission meansbetween said motor and each of said shafts arranged in such manner thatthe working of said motor causes said shaftsto turn in opposeddirections about their common axis, these transmission means being suchthat rotation of said frame about said common axis causes both of saidshafts to turn together with said frame both in the same direction,control means for rotating said frame, and control means for said motor.

5. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of twopropellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting axestransverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically withrespect to each other on either side of the median plane of saidmachine, two shafts in line with each other journalled in said machineand connected with said propellers respectively so that rotation of eachof said shafts causes the corresponding propeller to turn about itspivoting axis, a frame journalled ir. said machine about the same axisas said two shafts, a motor carried by said frame, an endless screw andworm wheel transmission between said motor and each of said shaftsarranged in such manner that said motor drives said respective shafts inopposed directions and that the rctation of the motor, together with theframe that carries it, about the common axis of these two shafts causessaid shafts 'to turn together in the same direction, control means forrotating said frame, and means for controlling said motor.

6. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of twopropellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting .axestransverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically withrespect to each otherv on either side of the median plane of said ma-vchine, mechanical means for turning each of said propellers about thecorresponding pivoting axis, control means for simultaneously drivingsaid two mechanical means in the same direction, an electric motoradapted to drive said mechanical means in opposite directionssimultaneously, said electric motor being capable of running inl op'posite directions, means for controlling said electric motor, and meansfor automatically stopping said electric motor after a. predetermineddisplacement thereof.

7. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of twopropellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting axestransverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically withrespect to each other on either side of the median plane of saidmachine, me-

chanical means for turning each of said propellersvabout thecorresponding pivoting axis, control means for simultaneously drivingsaid two mechanical means in the same direction, an electric motoradapted to drive said mechanical means in opposed directionssimultaneously, means for controlling said electric motor, and

means, operative by said motor, for automatically stopping it after ailxed number of revolutions in one direction or the other.

8. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group ofVrtwo propellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivotingaxes transverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetricallywith respect to each other on either side of the median plane of saidmachine, mechanical means for turning each of said propellers about thecorresponding pivoting axis, control means for simultaneously drivingsaid two mechanical means in the same direction, an electric motoradapted to drive said mechanical means in opposed directionssimultaneously, means for starting said electric motor, in one directionor the other, and adjustable means for automatically stopping saidelectric motor alter any desired number of revolutions in one directionor the other.

9. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of twopropellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting axestransverse to their respective axes of revolution andlocatedsymmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the medianplane of said corresponding exactly to the passage of each of saidpropellers from a given position withrespect to its pivoting axis toanother position making an angle of therewith.

10. A vessel having two propeller mountings spaced apart from oneanother, respectively, and

adapted to pivot about vertical axes located symrespectively wherebysaid propeller mountings are rotated about their vertical axesbymovement oi' said shafts, a control element geared to said shafts tomove the same whereby, upon operation of said control element, to pivotsaid propeller mountings about their respective vertical axes in thesame direction, and a second control element independent of therst-riamedl control element and lgeared to said shafts to move the samewhereby, upon operation oi' said second control element, to pivot saidpropeller mountings about their respective vertical axes in oppositedirections.

11. A vessel as claimed in claim 10, the movements of said transverseshafts being movements of rotation about their common axis, the gearingbetween said shafts and said propeller mountings including an endlessscrew on each of said shafts, and a pair of helicoidal wheels on saidpropeller mountings and in mesh with said screws.

12. A vessel as claimed in claim 10, said propeller mountings includinga propeller and a motor, said propeller and motor being aiiixed to saidmountings and being rotatable about said vertical axis therewith.

13. A vessel as claimed in claim 10, the rstnamed control element beingmanually operable, said second control element including a motor andswitch means for controlling the same.

, ETTORE BUGATTI.

